57 COLLEGES OFFER ‘WELCOME’ SCHOLARSHIP FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS

With news about travel bans and border crackdowns making headlines around the world, it’s easy to understand why some students from other countries might be unsure about whether they’ll feel accepted and encouraged if they choose to study in the U.S.. That’s why more than 350 American colleges and universities — plus several high schools — are working together to send an important message to prospective international students: YOU ARE WELCOME HERE!

Now some of those institutions are putting money behind the message. FIfty-seven American colleges and universities have joined forces to start a scholarship program for international students who will enter those schools in the fall of 2019. The schools are spread out across the country — from Maine to Hawaii — and include community colleges as well as large, public universities.

Each school will offer two annual, renewable scholarships that cover at least half of tuition costs to selected international undergraduates who are committed to furthering the “You Are Welcome Here” message by bridging intercultural gaps. To apply for the scholarship, students must first submit an application to a participating college. They can then complete the scholarship application, which offers students the choice of writing a short (500- 1,000-word) essay in response to a question or creating a 2- to 5-minute multimedia project about their ideas for promoting intercultural learning and understanding on their future campuses. This could include conducting projects, doing research or creating experiences on campus or in the local or national community. The application deadline is December 15, 2018.

The following colleges and universities are offering the scholarships for Fall 2019:

1. Adelphi University (Garden City, New York)

2. Albion College (Albion, Michigan)

3. Augsburg University (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

4. Ball State University (Muncie, Indiana)

5. Butte Community College (Oroville, California)

6. California State University San Marcos (San Marcos, California)

7. Cedar Crest College (Allentown, Pennsylvania)

8. Clarkson University (Potsdam, New York)

9. Concordia College (Moorhead, Minnesota)

10. Eastern Michigan University (Ypsilanti, Michigan)

11. Florida Institute of Technology

12. Furman University (Greenville, South Carolina)

13. George Mason University (Fairfax, Virginia)

14. Hawaii Pacific University (Honolulu, Hawaii)

15. Hollins University (Roanoke, Virginia)

16. Illinois College (Jacksonville, Illinois)

17. Illinois Wesleyan University (Bloomington, Illinois)

18. James Madison University (Harrisonburg, Virginia)

19. Johnson & Wales University (Providence, Rhode Island)

20. Kent State University (Kent, Ohio)

21. La Roche College (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

22. Lebanon Valley College (Annville, Pennsylvania)

23. Loras College (Dubuque, Iowa)

24. Marian University (Fond du Lac, Wisconsin)

25. Miami University (Oxford, Ohio)

26. Michigan State University (East Lansing, Michigan)

27. Murray State University (Murray, Kentucky)

28. North Central College (Naperville, Illinois)

29. Northeastern University (Boston, Massachusetts)

30. Ohio University (Athens, Ohio)

31. Pacific Northwest College of Art (Portland, Oregon)

32. Purdue University Northwest (Hammond and Westville, Indiana)

33. Rutgers University-Camden (Camden, New Jersey)

34. Saint Leo University (St. Leo, Florida)

35. Saint Michael’s College (Colchester, Vermont)

36. Salve Regina University (Newport, Rhode Island)

37. Seattle University (Seattle, Washington)

38. Shoreline Community College (Shoreline, Washington)

39. St. Thomas Aquinas College (Sparkill, New York)

40. State University of New York at New Paltz (New Paltz, New York)

41. Temple University (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

42. The College of Saint Rose (Albany, New York)

43. The George Washington University (Washington, D.C.)

44. Towson University (Towson, Maryland)

45. Transylvania University (Lexington, Kentucky)

46. University of Dayton (Dayton, Ohio)

47. University of Maryland, Baltimore County (Baltimore, Maryland)

48. University of Minnesota -Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota)

49. University of Saint Joseph (West Hartford, Connecticut)

50. University of South Alabama (Mobile, Alabama)

51. University of Southern Indiana (Evansville, Indiana)

52. University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, Minnesota)

53. University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (Stevens Point, Wisconsin)

54. Valparaiso University (Valparaiso, Indiana)

55. Wayne State University (Detroit, Michigan)

56. Western New England University (Springfield, Massachusetts)

57. Widener University (Chester, Pennsylvania)

Temple University, home to students from more than 100 countries, is the headquarters for the #YouAreWelcomeHere international campaign. Since it was started in November 2016, the campaign has attracted hundreds of participating universities — many of which have produced videos to show off their campuses and send positive messages to students who are thinking about coming to the U.S. for their education.

“We are proud to be leading the next step of the #YouAreWelcomeHere campaign and supporting international students who are dedicated to breaking down intercultural barriers,” Temple University President Richard M. Englert said of the scholarship. “These students have the potential to strengthen understanding between cultures, not only at Temple but also in the U.S. and across the world.”

Jessica Sandberg, Temple University’s director of international admissions and spokesperson for the #YouAreWelcomeHere campaign, said the scholarship is a natural next step.

“It advances the campaign through meaningful action, adding concrete support for international students to our already well-received message and providing those students with a way to expand the conversation.”

The scholarship is available to first-year international applicants interested in any major. International applicants must hold citizenship from a country outside the U.S. and do not also possess U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. They need to currently attend or have graduated from a secondary school outside the U.S. and should be interested in promoting intercultural learning and exchange.